Oh so close . . .

A warm welcome saw our old rivals from Birkenhead Park back at Underley Park. Riding atop the league by some margin they will head for NW 1 next season. The home side have a strong team out and are relishing today’s game.
The home team started well, and dominated possession and territory for the first 10 minutes, then Park were soon on the attack but defence by the home side held until an overlap by the visitors backs saw the first try in the corner. 0-5. The next 10 minutes ebbed and flowed but Kirkby lost the ball whilst attacking their opponents half and a brilliant 50-22 kick gave Park the line out. From here the visitors forwards headed for the line and scored Parks second try to double their score. The home crowd felt the ball had not been grounded but the referee let the try stand. From the restart Kirkby attacked and a good rolling maul by their forwards moved play to within 10 yards of the try line. Infringement by the visitors gave the home side a penalty and decided on a scrum. As they have over recent weeks, the pack moved as one and number 8 Baines emerged from the try line with the ball to put Kirkby on the score sheet. Converted by Terry the board read 7-10 after 25 minutes. Back Park came and a high tackle gave them a penalty. Winning the line out they moved the ball along the back row and a chip over the Kirkby defence was too long and Oates touched down to give a drop out under the posts. Unfortunately the kick only reached the 22 and the visitors came back at Kirkby whose forwards defence held but Parks backs did the damage to score in the corner. 7-15. With their tails up, the visitors backs made the fourth try before half time, not converted the score was 7-20 as the whistle blew.
Despite the score line good rugby had been seen by both sides. Kirkby restarted the second half and were soon pressing the Parks defence until the first quarter had been played when from a Kirkby scrum, 25 yards out, Baines picked up the ball, beat off a challenge and scored an individual try under the posts to give him a brace. Converted by Terry the home side moved to 14 points. The visitors drew a penalty inside the Kirkby half and a change of kicker by Park saw the ball split the posts to give them 3 further points. This was reciprocated 5 minutes later when from an attacking move Kirkby were awarded a penalty that was converted by Terry to restore the points difference. 17-23. Birkenhead appeared rattled and Kirkby took full advantage as their pack moved onto the attack. From a scrum 10 yards out, birthday boy Bradshaw picked up the ball and headed for the line to score the third try which with Terry’s boot put Kirkby into the lead by a point. 24-23.
As play entered the last quarter the home fans lifted their team and they again attacked their opponents half. Park gave away penalties as Kirkby looked for a fourth try and a line out brought them within 25 yards but a knock on gave Park a scrum and they cleared downfield. Back came Kirkby and the forwards played their part in heading for the try line. With the crowd behind them they scored their fourth try as Leandro emerged with the ball. Uncharacteristically, Terry missed the conversion as Kirkby’s score went to 29-23. Into the last 5 minutes the pressure from Park built but sterling defence from their opponents kept them at bay. Following a frantic ruck with full time looming, Captain Briggs was helped off the pitch with an injury. Back on came Lancaster as replacement but in the 5th minute of injury time the Birkenhead pack scored under the posts. Converted, they took the points back home by 1 point. Final score 29-30. If only……one would say, but 2 points may well help with two games remaining. The crowd enjoyed 80 minutes of good entertaining rugby by two sides at either end of the league. Next week Kirkby travel to Bowdon for another difficult game.

DJH